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Samarth Conclave drives India’s accessible future
DELHI: India is shifting gears on inclusion, and this time it is making sure no one is left waiting at the kerb. At the Samarth India Conclave and Expo 2025 in Delhi, Hyundai Motor India Limited and Times Network steered a lively national conversation on accessibility, technology and equal opportunity for persons with disabilities.
Held under the ‘Samarth by Hyundai’ initiative, the conclave brought together ministers, policymakers, technologists and advocates to explore how inclusive design and assistive innovation can unlock the full potential of millions. The highlight was the launch of the Samarth Accessibility Metric, created by Times Network and Samarthyam Centre for Universal Accessibility, which provides India’s first structured rating system for accessible public and private mobility spaces.
The Expo added a hands-on dimension, with startups and innovators displaying adaptive mobility devices, AI-led navigation aids and accessible digital tools. Organisations including NCPEDP, ALIMCO, the National Association for the Blind and XL Cinemas presented solutions tailored to diverse disability needs.
Union minister Kiren Rijiju underscored the government’s commitment to dignity and equal access, noting the shift in social attitudes since the adoption of the term Divyang. He highlighted parity in support for Olympic and Paralympic athletes and called assistive technology essential to a disability-neutral India.
Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasised that accessibility must define India’s rise. He said inclusive tourism is a national priority, citing AI-enabled travel guidance, screen-reader-friendly platforms, sign-language tours and sensory-inclusive events as examples of progress. He added that India is no longer following global standards but setting them across airports, museums, smart cities and heritage projects.
Hyundai Motor India’s managing director Unsoo Kim said the company sees mobility as momentum for change, noting that Samarth by Hyundai represents its commitment to human-centred mobility. COO Tarun Garg added that accessibility is a fundamental right, and the conclave aims to accelerate transformative solutions that deliver measurable impact for people with disabilities.
Times Network stated that the initiative aligns with the Group’s decades-long role in shaping national conversations, and that amplifying Hyundai’s accessibility mission reflects its own ethos.
Now in its second year, Samarth by Hyundai continues to champion empowerment through action. With support for para-athletes, inclusive sporting events, accessible infrastructure, student outreach and the pledge for inclusivity movement, the initiative reinforces a simple truth, when capability is enabled, ambition becomes unstoppable.
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WITT Summit 2026 concludes in New Delhi
Babar Azam’s comical diving attempt goes viral as league introduces anti-dew measures.
MUMBAI: The WITT Summit just wrapped up with enough big ideas to fill a policy playbook because when India’s leaders, thinkers and icons gather under one roof, even the conversations hit sixes. The eighth edition of TV9 Network’s flagship What India Thinks Today (WITT) Summit 2026 concluded on Saturday after two days of dynamic discussions at its New Delhi venue. India’s largest multi-domain public policy and culture summit brought together political leaders, policymakers, sports icons, artists and technology innovators to examine the forces shaping contemporary India and its global standing.
Prime minister Narendra Modi delivered the keynote address on the theme “India and the World” for the third consecutive year. In a wide-ranging speech, he addressed the ongoing conflict in West Asia, calling for restraint and compassion while highlighting India’s continued development trajectory despite global turmoil.
The summit featured candid conversations with state leaders. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy articulated a people-first governance model and contrasted it with other development approaches. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav declared that Left-wing extremism had been effectively eliminated in his state and highlighted preparations for the upcoming Kumbh Mela. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann defended his government’s record, citing the closure of 19 toll plazas and creation of the Sadak Suraksha Force. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed confidence in Congress prospects in Assam and addressed recent allegations against him.
On geopolitics and national security, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia outlined India’s ambition to become a builder of trusted digital infrastructure for the world, citing the rapid 5G rollout and village-level 4G connectivity.
Cricket received significant attention. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly praised player freedom and trust as hallmarks of great leadership and named MS Dhoni as the greatest captain due to his World Cup successes. India women’s team bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi credited the BCCI and Women’s Premier League for building a pipeline of world-class talent behind the team’s recent ODI World Cup triumph.
The summit also hosted the inaugural AI² Awards 2026, celebrating the convergence of human creativity and machine intelligence in storytelling and content creation. Poet and kathavachak Kumar Vishwas delivered a nuanced take on India’s concept of Dharma and criticised the recent arrest of an 80-year-old Shankaracharya. Veteran lyricist Sameer Anjaan and storyteller Neelesh Misra reflected on changing music trends and artistic responsibility in the wake of a recent controversy involving Nora Fatehi.
In a country where conversations often run as deep as the Ganges, the WITT Summit proved once again that when leaders, thinkers and storytellers come together, the real winner is public discourse lively, layered and refreshingly unafraid to tackle the big questions shaping India’s tomorrow.
